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Part 1
THE
PLAINTRUTH
ABOUT
ls the day of miracles past? Does the living God heal sickness and disease
today upon believing prayer? Or was healing performed only by Christ
and the original apostles? Did God raise up medica/ science for our day? What about
modern faith healers and public healing services?
Y
ou live in a world that relies
primarily on medica) doctors
to treat iUness. Most profes–
sing Christians today say: "God
raised up medica) science for our
day. Jesus healed to prove He was
the Messiah. But the day ofmiracles
is now past." Sorne think God heals
through self-professed faith healers,
and attend public healing shows.
Sorne believe in healing by one of
the forms of "mental science"- the
power of mind over matter. Others
say: "Well, I think God
can
heal- IF
it's His will. But how can we know
whether it's H is will?"
Yes,people say!
But what does Goo say?
Does he reveal whetber He still
heals,
why
He heals,
how
He heals.
whether
and
when
it is His wiU? For
the answers we go to the Bible.
Chrlst's Ministry Was Dual
Let's begin at the beginning. Ac–
tually, there are
two
beginnings, so
far as the subject of healing is con–
cerned- one in the New Testament,
4
by
Herbert W.
Armstrong
with Christ; the other in the Old
Testament , with the people of an–
cient Israel. We shall begin with the
ministry of Jesus. Later, many read–
ers will be surprised to learn how
much is recorded on the subject
throughout the Old Testament.
More than nineteen h undred
yea rs ago- in A.D. 27-31 - J esus
Christ appeared on earth as a mes–
senger bearing history's most impor–
tant message from God to mankind.
His mission was prophesied
in
Ma–
lachi. chapter 3. verse l. That mes–
sage actually was a s tupendous
NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT. The news
was the most transcendent GOOD
NEWS! l t was tbe GOSPEL (which
means "good news") of Jesus Christ.
But Jesus' ministry was a
dual
ministry. And a miraculous minis–
try.
Jesus carne also healing the sick
by the divine POWER of God.
Jt
was
not the power of human mind over
matter. Few realize the extent to
which healing and casting out de–
mons were an integral part of Jesus'
ministry. Later, the apostles pro–
claimed His same message and
healed the sick.
What Happened to the Gospel
and to Healing
ll comes as an astounding shock to
learn that long before the end ofthe
first century, the proclamation of
Christ's gospel to the world and the
ministry of physica l healing ceased!
But WHY?
Christ's gospel was the glorious
messianic announcement of the
coming world-ruling KtNGDOM OF
Goo.
lt
was the announcement of
the wonderful WORLD TOMORROW!
ll was
not
a message of
doom!–
except for the doom of this world's
evils. sufferings and unhappiness.
lt
was a joyous announcement of com–
ing world peace, universal happi–
ness, and well -being ! But the
leaders of the people in Judea mis–
understood aod resented both that
good NEWS, and Jesus' MIRACLES.
Jesus' miracles were public-but
they weren't healing shows. He sim-
The
PLAIN TRUTH July 1977